𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐈𝐃

#.. FOUR

as gunil was driving seungmin to the hospital, where he was staying at, the younger broke down in tears again. "is something?" gunil questioned, worried about the other.

"it's just... i lied... before." he confessed, hesitant about talking. "i'm not getting better- in contrary, it's getting worse oh my god i- i don't know why i felt the urge to give you false hope."

seungmin was crying violently at this point, gunil didn't know what to do. after all, he still had to keep his eyes on the road. yet hearing seungmin's muffled cries and sobs broke his heart.

"i won't make it past this week.. maybe not even until the day after tomorrow...maybe not even past tomorrow." seungmin confessed quietly, but gunil still heard it. goosebumps were created on his skin as he gripped his steering wheel, hard.

he didn't know what to say. what was one obliged to say in a moment of pure shock and devastation?

"they meassured my heartrate.." seungmin continued, being interrupted by his sobs several times. "it's too low.. they told me that my heart could stop any second now. that's why i went to see you - i wanted to say goodbye."

oh, that's... gunil was left with no words. "it's okay.." was the only thing he was able to say, his voice shaking. seungmin couldn't stop crying and apologising to gunil.

"i wasn't able to tell that hyeongjun... he would be too devastated. i just want him to be happy. at least the next few days."

gunil sighed. what was he supposed to say? yet that wasn't necessary, as seungmin continued talking.

"i don't know what happens after death.. but hell, i'm gonna miss you guys.. a lot. fuck.." the only reason gunil knew seungmin was because of their workplace.

knowing that seungmin was hyeongjun's best friend made gunil feel pity for the boy. it was always hard to lose someone you're close with.

gunil didn't notice how gradually the sobs lessened and the hurting cries stopped, too focussed on the road.

just as he heard seungmin's breath hitched, he took a brief look at the rearview mirror. "seungmin?" gunil asked. maybe he was just resting?

as the boy didn't react, gunil called his name again, this time a little bit louder. still getting no reaction, gunil cursed as he picked up the speed of the car. he was less interested in the fact that he was caught speeding up by a speed camera.

arriving at the hospital, gunil noticed that seungmin still didn't move one bit. "min, please.." the elder cried as he picked seungmin up, carrying him inside.

calling for help, many doctors came running with a stretcher, gunil explained the situation meanwhile.

"he's already a patient here, but he wanted to visit us." gunil exclaimed as he was running next to one of the doctor's, who pushed seungmin towards the intensive care unit.

"he has pneumonia and- and when driving here, he suddenly fainted. he- he's terminally ill too." the doctor nodded and thanked gunil for the information, before he was asked to stay outside the room. yet everything was heard even from outside the room.

"pulse?" "there's none, sir!" the next moments felt like an eternity. the loud flashes marked their tries to revive the young man again. yet hearing that sound again and again, gave gunil the feeling that nothing will work.

gunil was praying that everything would turn out fine. he was praying to god, that he wouldn't take seungmin's soul yet. there were so many things the young man hasn't seen. yet his calls were ignored.

"time of death?" he heard one of them ask. "7:57pm."

gunil closed his eyes and lowered his head after he heard that. his hands clasped together, he prayed once again. this time he wished seungmin a pleasant rest in the paradise.

one of the doctor's came out, the silence indicated that it didn't went the way they wanted it to go.

"we did everything we could.. he didn't make it."